Does the Wii U’s ‘horrible, slow’ CPU mean that it is a weak system?

"...My understanding of it is that every single gaming system is unique and must be understood for itself. You can’t point to one single aspect of a system and expect it define the entire capabilities of the system. The Wii U may have a more limited CPU, but then again, it has more powerful GPU. In order for developers to really utilize the Wii U they will have to work with it, understand it’s distinct flavor, and then create an engine that will take full advantage of what it has to offer. I think that once we see developers fully taking advantage of the Wii U with games built ground up for the system by a team who has already had experience with the system, the graphics will be better than what we currently see on the Xbox 360 and PS3. But, for quick ports of games originally made for other system’s hardware, it probably is merely adequate. It has the latest features in the industry and there won’t be any major obstacles to porting a game unless the specific engine was designed in a way that conflicts with the Wii U’s tech."

Considering the CPU is responsible for things like Physics, audio processing, input/output, etc... It does make it a weak system. Like the guys at DICE saying that they won't be able to get as many players on Wii U versions of future COD titles due to it having a weaker CPU. When you are having to cut things from a game due to the limitations of a hardware component, it does indeed mean that the system is not up to par as far as power goes. Everyone expected Wii U to be the weakest of the 3, but when you look at games like Black Ops 2, and the Wii U version not having things the PS3 version had in it such as HDR bloom, some shadow effects, and normal mapping, that does not bode well for a system that is supposed to compete in the next generation.

When 360 first launched, there were some games that came out for it that didn't look any better than their original Xbox version, but you never saw a game come out on Xbox or PS2 that looked better than the 360 version. And you didn't have developers saying it's CPU sucked the day it launched either.

With Wii, nintendo got away with the motion control fad, so they were able to release a console that didn't even compete with the previous gen (some xbox games, like chronicles of riddick, look better than anything I've seen on Wii). This time, they're releasing a system who's gimmick is available, at least in some form, on both of the competing PREVIOUS gen consoles, and will likely make it's way into some or all of the next gen consoles as well if that style of dual screen gameplay starts to take off for nintendo.

As such, this time around, Nintendo is in nowhere near as good of a position as they were last gen. The weaker system that uses a gimmick to sell itself approach is not going to work the same for them this time.

@killatia. I'm sure he/she is aware of that, but he's using CoD as an example because he/she starts talking about Black Ops 2 comparisons. Battlefield 3 isn't on the Wii U so it's not like they can compare the two. It's rumored it's been cancelled.

Yes. Agreed. The articles about the WiiU being "crippled right out the gate" are exaggerating. The WiiU will be able to play some nice-looking games.

However...

Hardware is hardware. Videogames are made using code and mathematics and hardware, and hardware limitations are still going to be limitations, regardless of what sort of "magic" the developer does.

The author wants the WiiU to have some sort of hidden power. I doubt that will be the case. Instead, what will happen is we will get games like Metroid Prime 3 and Mario Galaxy (in the sense that we'll nod and say "Yeah, that DOES look really good....for a Wii game"). But any hopes of the WiiU being some sort of off-the-charts next-gen super-powered system should be left to die. It ain't happening. The WiiU is "current gen" right out the door.

Who has all the gpgpu experience? Understand they don't make games. The CPU does compression for free! Because it is a gpgpu with edram. Now if you ignore that then it would seem like magic.

Plus these are people that have not played with final kits in most cases. This is brand new tech that even the tech people havnt grasped yet. This tech will also be in another console, and have the same issues.

do you think they're fools at Nintendo? they're developers as well. Will they make a console less powerful than current gen and then claim it'll fend off next gen? What you've seen WiiU do so far is it's worst, believe me.

You know what? hold on to your "WiiU is current gen" for me and let's monitor future games.

The community is way cooler didn't know there where so many artist out there.

Oh if you want to be disappointed Go ahead I'm enjoying this hardware even though I have a high spec pc... I think all of the angst is from uk gamers. When you truly get to try this over someone's house you'll see the potiential.

What is so radical is this CPU is slower but can still produce hd console content with our being fully exploited.

I understand you guys are in full fanboy warrior mode so just go and read up on things like open cl and direct compute. I got games to rip into. I'm out of the studio and boy does this system display clear as fuck! Guess I'll get dark siders also, they need the funding!

The game developer conference should be very very good next year. We will have lots of talks on this gpgpu hybrid and why it matters. You won't have to listen to me about this stuff. I'll just let them sit back and prove it.

It's weird how it is ok to talk about other techs potiential but not Nintendo here. It's really too bad I don't have as much free time to post here. Oh well. Good luck on hating the wiiu the picture messaging is pretty fun.

Its not that good an article. Suggesting that developers are going to create loads of dedicated engines for Wii U to utilise it best is surely a pipedream.

The only way that will happen is if nintendo manage to keep huge third party dev support on board. Which they just cannot do, and they just wont when the other consoles arrive in a year or so.

So expect to be stuck with the same old generic multiplat engines like UE3, and engines that were originally created on 360/Ps3 just ported across even for use on newer games in the future. FIFA 15? Assassins creed 4? Mass effect 4? COD MW4? All on wii U?

Yeah, probably, but they will all still be on engines originating from the Xbox 360/Ps3 era.

Partly for the other reasons I said, and partly cos the machine itself is so close in performance to Ps3/360 then devs won't see the point when they have something that will about work anyway. On top of that you'll still have less than 30m Wii Us even selling like mad (talking original wii mad here) after 18 months. Ps3/360 will be 80m+ EACH.

Sooooooooo Wii U will never be a lead platform for anything other than its nintendo games and big budget third party exclusives.

Which as i have just said, will hardly exist in a couple years.

Keep on dreaming peeps.

This brutal truth brought to you by me, sponsored by reality check incorporated

I was on the fence right up to this moment.But i made my decision. I'm going to get me a delux one of these along with ME3, as i still yet to play it and i heard that the Addition of the second screen is making life easier.